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take before he would be disqualified as a pawn and get
released from the war team. He had been wide awake for the last
thirty hours, but now the speed was wearing itself out of his
system and he felt tired and shaky. They removed the straitjacket
and he stretched out and relaxed. He longed for a bed and some
sleep, but he had to wait while his papers were sorted by the
staff sergeant in charge and his transfer orders processed.

When that was over, Washington, the buffalo nurse brought him
upstairs to be interviewed by a psychiatrist named Kruze, who
questioned Kenny briefly and studied him for a moment until he
felt satisfied that he was fairly sober and safely subdued. He
told Washington he could leave them alone.

They talked for about forty minutes and it was a congenial
conversation. At one point Kenny even admitted that, yes, he
wanted out of the army as soon as possible. Dr. Kruze was
sympathetic and offered to arrange for his honorable discharge
from the service, but said it would take a few weeks to be
effected and asked, "Do you think you'll need any
medication?"

"I don't know, doctor. Why?"

"Well, you're going to be here for a while and there's
very little to do. Most of the patients are pretty sick and a
tranquilizer will help relieve any anxiety which may occur during
your stay."

"Sure. Whatever you say, Doctor."

"All right, I'll prescribe a fifty-milligram Thorazine in
the morning, one in the evening, and a chloral hydrate for
sleep."

"Fine. "

"What about work? It says here in your file that you have
cinematographic experience. They have a fair-sized film unit and
photo lab on this base. I think one of the patients works over
there now. Should I see if they can use you? It'd be good to have
something to do for a few hours a day, to break up the monotony
of just sitting around here and waiting."

"Okay, Doctor."

"Good, I'll talk to them about it. Now, there's no bed
available downstairs in the sign-out-patient ward, and there
won't be until after the weekend. So you'll have to stay locked
up in the control ward here on the second floor till Monday, when
they'll move you below, where you can go and come as you please.
I'll call Washington to get you set. Is there anything you want
to know?"